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Gaurav Nehra wins “The Million Dollar Arm” Season 2

Over two weeks ago...

Bengaluru: Gaurav Nehra, a javelin throw athlete from Ghaziabad, UP has won The Million Dollar Arm – “The search for India’s Best Baseball Contenders” Season 2, with pitches of 85 miles per hour. The first and the second runners-up were Gaurav Kumar from Rohtak & Kalttar Singh also from Meerut. The winner, Gaurav Nehra made the fastest pitch with a speed of 85 miles per hour per/hr to bag the prize money of US$ 50,000 and a golden opportunity to train at Major League Baseball (MLB) Academy in China.

The Million Dollar Arm should really evolve into a Million Dollar Skills contest. Maybe it will, because of MLB's involvement in TMDA. Some of the participants that don't make the final cut may have above average speed and hand/eye coordination. The first two TMDA winners were Javelin Throwers, not Cricketers. Opening up the range of skills would only make the contest more appealing to participants. Any thoughts?

I wonder about all those indian javelin throwers who only throw 80s. Are they amateur javelin throwers? I know india is not good at the javelin but an elite javelin thrower should be able to throw well over 90 right away. american jav thrower breaux greer (90+m thrower) threw high 90s as a HS kid.

I now have my own non commercial blog about training for batspeed and power using my training experience in baseball and track and field.

I wonder about all those indian javelin throwers who only throw 80s. Are they amateur javelin throwers? I know india is not good at the javelin but an elite javelin thrower should be able to throw well over 90 right away. american jav thrower breaux greer (90+m thrower) threw high 90s as a HS kid.

This season of the contest required the participants to not only throw it hard, but to throw for strikes. I'm sure that took something off the speed for the final contestants.

Rally, Any thoughts on TMDA becoming a Skills Contest? There are plenty of Cricket players in India that possess the basic skills to play baseball.

That could make sense if (1) it's true that cricket players possess the basic skills to play baseball. (From what I've read, I'm not sure that's right at all.) And (2) if Indians who play cricket WANT to play baseball. Contrary to reports, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel weren't cricketers. They were javeline throwers. The financial rewards for becoming a successful cricket player in India are already pretty high. In fact, foreigners come to play in the national 20/20 league. I don't know if MLB would have much luck convincing a young man with cricket skills to abandon that and try something else that's completely foreign and very risky.

That could make sense if (1) it's true that cricket players possess the basic skills to play baseball. (From what I've read, I'm not sure that's right at all.)

I've based my theory that cricket skills may translate to basic baseball skills on Pakistan's success in the South/Southeast Asia region. They [Pakistan] seemingly came out of nowhere to become one the better teams in their region. Neighboring India, has a larger population and a rich cricket culture; there is no reason for them not to duplicate Pakistan's success. Imagine what India might do with MLB's support. MLB's involvement in another emerging super populous country [China] may indicate their willingness to commit to a similar promotional effort in India.

Originally Posted by Rally Monkey

And (2) if Indians who play cricket WANT to play baseball. Contrary to reports, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel weren't cricketers. They were javeline throwers. The financial rewards for becoming a successful cricket player in India are already pretty high. In fact, foreigners come to play in the national 20/20 league. I don't know if MLB would have much luck convincing a young man with cricket skills to abandon that and try something else that's completely foreign and very risky.

That is possible, but there are many cricketers in India that probably didn't make the cut to play in the IPL or any other cricket leagues. The residual talent that doesn't make it in cricket could be interested in an alternative route. Remember this is only a theory.

I've based my theory that cricket skills may translate to basic baseball skills on Pakistan's success in the South/Southeast Asia region. They [Pakistan] seemingly came out of nowhere to become one the better teams in their region.

The Pakistan team is made of military and police men. In other words, they picked athletically talented people to begin with. That was enough to put Pakistan on the top of that region.

The Pakistan team is made of military and police men. In other words, they picked athletically talented people to begin with. That was enough to put Pakistan on the top of that region.

That is an interesting way to assemble a team. Would you agree that if TMDA were to look for other athletic skills aside from throwing; that India could use those athletes to accomplish the same in baseball as Pakistan?

That is an interesting way to assemble a team. Would you agree that if TMDA were to look for other athletic skills aside from throwing; that India could use those athletes to accomplish the same in baseball as Pakistan?

I'm not sure if Indians would be motivated enough to assemble a team to be in the same tournament as Pakistan for a lot of reasons.

The last six weeks have been rough for Rinku; 12 ER and 2.38 WHIP in the last 13 Innings of work. This is a step back for him. He will need to make the necessary corrections this spring if he wants to continue his growth or it might be the end of this project for the Pirates.

It's disappointing to see that Dinesh has essentially turned his back on baseball since returning to India. But not surprising: As he says, there's no baseball there. So what could he do?

It just goes to show the challenges MLB has in growing the game in countries with no baseball tradition. And how important it will for Rinku to continue having success.

Speaking of Rinku, he's starting this year again in the Pirates' Low-A league affiliate, the West Virginia Power. He's already pitched four innings in two games, giving up five hits but with no earned runs. He hasn't gotten higher than Low-A ball. But if he can get on track and avoid the meltdowns he had in the ABL after its all-star break--and the one he had down the stretch last season in Charleston--he might be a candidate for a promotion to the Pirates' High-A affiliate in Bradenton, Florida.